This coming weekend will mark an ending for one young lady but a beginning for another as a new Miss Watauga Valley is crowned.
The Miss Watauga Valley Scholarship Pageant will be held on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. at T.A. Dugger Junior High School in Elizabethton.
The reigning Miss Watauga Valley Elizabeth Painter will pass on the crown to her successor, but she will take home with her a year full of fond memories.
“It’s been nothing short of amazing,” Painter said of her experiences over the past year. “I’ve gotten a lot of chances to do public service.”
In addition to earning the right to compete for the Miss Tennessee title, Painter was also given several opportunities to give back to her community through the pageant scholarship program.
Many of the opportunities revolved around children, such as visiting schools, the children’s hospital in Knoxville and working with the Special Olympics event at East Tennessee State University.
“That was a highlight for sure,” Painter said. “I was a peer tutor at that time as a senior. I got to work with the special needs students every day.”
Getting the chance to see those same students compete at the Special Olympics made the event even more special for Painter.
As part of the scholarship program, each reigning “Miss” must have a platform issue that she presents talks on. For Painter, that issue was Hyperthyroidism and Graves Disease, which is also related to the thyroid gland.
“I was raising awareness about those diseases because they aren’t really well known in our area,” Painter said.
After passing on her crown Saturday, Painter plans to continue in the pageant scholarship program, just not right away.
“I’m at ETSU right now,” she said. “I’m going to focus on my students for right now.” In time though, she said she will return to competition.
As for the young lady who will take up the crown, Painter offers some sage advice from her own experiences.
“Take this title and make the best of it and serve the community. They have a great community to support and serve,” she said. “Make sure to enjoy it though, because the time flies by.”
Three titles will be awarded on Saturday night at T.A. Dugger Junior High School as part of the Miss Watauga Valley Pageant.
A Miss (ages 17-24 and at least a high school senior), Outstanding Teen (ages 13-17 and no older than a high school junior), and a Teen Princess (ages 13-19) will be crowned.
Competitions include a private interview with the judges; swimsuit for Miss and fitness wear for Outstanding Teen and Teen Princess; evening gown; and talent for Miss and Outstanding Teen contestants.
The Miss winner will receive a $500 scholarship. A special “Miss Congeniality” scholarship will be awarded.
The “Miss Congeniality” award is given in memory of Jim and Edna Potter, the founders of the Miss Watauga Valley pageant.
Contestants are still being accepted. Winners will advance to the Miss Tennessee’s Outstanding Teen and Teen Princess pageants, which will be held in Jackson during the first weekend in March 2016, and the Miss Tennessee Pageant, which will be held in Jackson during the third week of June 2016.
Charlie Garcia and Kayla Neikirk, a former Miss Watauga Valley, will serve as emcees. Special entertainment will be provided by Reiley Whitson, a 4th grader at Happy Valley Elementary, as well as the reigning Miss Watauga Valley, Elizabeth Painter, and her family, the reigning Miss Watauga Valley’s Outstanding Teen, Jessica Sales, and the reigning Miss Watauga Valley’s Teen Princess, Chloe Hubbard.
A “Princess in Training” workshop for girls ages 12 and younger will be held on the day of the pageant from noon until 2 p.m. at T.A. Dugger. Participants will receive training in stage presence, modeling, and public speaking, as well as participate in a photo shoot. All participants will receive a crown and are invited back to the pageant that evening to be a part of the onstage production.
Applications are still being accepted for the “Princess in Training” workshop. The cost is $30.
Please visit the pageant’s Facebook page, or email becky_simerly@charter.net, for more information about the pageant and the “Princess in Training” workshop.
Sponsors of the pageant include Felty-Roland Florist, Citizens Bank, Changes Medical Spa, Mickey Baker Photography, and Robinson Animal Hospital.
Becky Simerly and Linda Adams serve as directors of the pageant.